TruthAndFairness.org

Association for Truth and Fairness Applauds Dismissal of Duke Lacrosse Case: Urges More Work to Be Done to Aid Other Victims of False Accusations

by ATAF

April 11th, 2007

Washington, DC (April 11, 2007) – The Association for Truth and Fairness (ATAF) today commended the decision by the North Carolina Attorney General to drop the remaining charges against the three Duke lacrosse players –Reade Seligmann, Dave Evans and Collin Finnerty – who were falsely accused of several crimes in 2006. ATAF, a non-profit organization, was formed in order to help victims of abuses of power and other prosecutorial injustices, such as the Duke players, through raising funds to offset the staggering legal fees incurred while fighting false accusations.
“Today, truth and fairness have prevailed. The innocence of these three boys has been affirmed, yet the impact of the investigation and resulting indictments – both personally and financially – has taken a long term toll on the boys and their families,” said Tiger Joyce, chairman of the Board of Directors for ATAF. “While this battle has been won, there is much more work to be done on the war against wrongful prosecution and egregious misuses of power.”
The legal bills for Seligmann, Evans and Finnerty have already topped $3 million, which do not include costs incurred by the other Duke players who had to retain attorneys to defend them when the allegations arose at the beginning of the investigation. Funds raised by ATAF will go toward the Duke players’ legal fees, and the organization will continue its fundraising and awareness efforts to ensure that incidents such as this will not occur again.
The Duke University Lacrosse Team prosecution highlighted – on a national level – an example of the breach that exists within today’s legal system, and how the rights of both victims and the accused can be purposely and easily manipulated. ATAF aims to raise awareness about such egregious abuses of power while raising funds to go toward the legal fees incurred by the falsely accused as they fight for their innocence and restore their lives as best they can.�
“We are pleased that justice prevailed for the Duke players today, yet we must continue our efforts to provide resources to empower those who have been falsely accused to fight back, clear their names and restore their integrity,” said Joyce. “What happened in Durham should never be allowed to happen again.”
For more information on ATAF, please visit www.truthandfairness.org.
About ATAF
The Association for Truth and Fairness (ATAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing egregious misuses of power by elected and judicial officials, while providing assistance to those who have been subjected to gross legal injustices. ATAF works to protect the tenets of truth and fairness within the legal system by raising awareness of injustices and providing assistance to those for whom the system has failed. Funds received through donations to ATAF will be used to support the legal defense funds of individuals who are fighting wrongful accusations, as well as to support efforts that oppose laws, regulations or proposals that enable continued abuses of power. �

FROM THE DESK OF ATAF:

by ATAF

February 20th, 2007

First, let us say thank you to all who have contributed to ATAF. Since our website opened, we have received 150 gifts from supporters all over the country. There is no doubt that the word is spreading that the type of abuse of power that has occurred in Durham should never happen again to anyone ever again.

In the coming days, we are undertaking an effort to spread the word of ATAF and its mission to a broader audience. Each of you who have given and each of you who have looked at the website can help us in this efforts by informing others of the existence of truthandfairness.org. We are talking to those who are able to make major commitments to the effort but only through a grass roots campaign will we achieve our goal. It is during this period of quiet for the case that we must double our efforts to raise money for ATAF’s cause. Thank you again.

Team Bond

by ATAF

February 13th, 2007

Check out this USA Today story about how this year’s Duke Lacrosse has been growing closer despite the hardships they have faced.

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Spreading the Word about ATAF

by ATAF

February 6th, 2007

The word is getting out about the efforts of ATAF and you, our generous supporters! Here is a story in The News & Observer.

Let’s keep moving forward, click here and tell your friends and family they can help too!

March of Support

by ATAF

February 5th, 2007

Here is a video of some great news coverage of this weekend’s “March of Support” to the Duke campus. Click here!

Support in the Blogosphere

by ATAF

February 1st, 2007

Make sure you read this great post “Other ‘Misplaced’ Commentary About the Merits of DNA Evidence”, click here.

New York Times Editorial

by ATAF

February 1st, 2007

Please make sure you read this editorial from the NY Times, “The True State of C.S.I. Justice”, click here.

Support in the Blogosphere

by ATAF

February 1st, 2007

Check out what’s being said on the blog “John in Carolina” (a Duke alum), click here.